Raids net 3 suspects, meth

Daily Press

DELTA — Three people were taken into custody early Tuesday morning after authorities searched four homes and found $10,000-worth of suspected drugs, plus firearms.

Arrested on suspicion of drug distribution were Christobal Velasquez, 39 and Jessica Prisbrey, 25. Also arrested was Rudell Gamez, 20, who was detained on an immigration hold. Formal charges hadn't been filed as of Tuesday night.

At another residence, officers found a woman and three children, but they were not arrested.

Seventh Judicial District Meth/Drug Task Force Agent Jack Haynes said search warrants were secured as part of a months-long investigation, which continues. The alleged activities were connected to other drug cases currently proceeding through the courts, Haynes said.

"As we were working through this, different people started popping up," he said. "The person we searched is the person we believe was supplying meth and cocaine. We had a lot of information that led us to believe" drug dealing was taking place.

Authorities searched three residences on Heinz Street in Delta. They also conducted a knock-and-announce search at a home on Riley Lane, finding small quantities of alleged drugs there, but the resident was not at home.

Haynes said that on Heinz Street, officers and agents found approximately 8 ounces of suspected methamphetamine and small amounts of cocaine. The estimated street value of the seized substances was $10,000, he said.

Also found were a 12-guage shotgun, small-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a single-shot pistol.

All searches went smoothly, Haynes said, and more arrests are anticipated.

Assisting the task force were the Montrose Police Department, Montrose County Sheriff's Office, Delta Police Department, Delta County Sheriff's Office, San Miguel County authorities, Ouray County's K-9 unit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.